The lingo used to describe the online world can be confusing, especially when terms like “domain name” and “website” are thrown around by some people as if they’re interchangeable. Many business owners and entrepreneurs struggle to understand the difference, which can lead to common mix-ups when building their online presence. The good news? Understanding these two essentials doesn’t have to be complicated. By knowing what a domain name is, what a website entails, and how they work together, you’ll be better equipped to establish a professional, effective digital presence.
This guide will show you how to connect the dots, and when you’re ready to take the next step, our tools and services are here to help.
What is a domain name?
Think of a domain name as your address on the internet. It’s the unique name people type into their browser’s search bar to find your website. Just like a physical address helps people locate your home or business, a domain name directs visitors to your online space. For example, “chickenpotpie.com” or “catsinboots.net” are domain names. They’re easy-to-remember, human-friendly versions of the complicated numerical IP addresses that computers use to locate servers and websites. Without a domain name, your site would be nearly impossible for people to find or recognize.
A domain name isn’t just a functional necessity—it’s also part of your branding. The right name can make a lasting impression, build trust with your audience, and even help your site rank better in search engines. That’s why it’s so important to choose one that reflects your business and is easy to share.
What is a website?
While a domain name serves as the address to get to your site, the website is the actual “place” where people can learn about your products or services, contact you, or make purchases. A website is a collection of web pages (like a homepage, about page, product listings, etc.) that are connected and hosted on the internet. It’s where your content, images, videos, and other resources live, allowing visitors to interact with your business online. So, you can think about your domain name as your address and your website as your digital storefront.
Websites are built using code, with a combination of HTML for structure, CSS for design, and often JavaScript to add interactive functionality like animations or dynamic content. And, no, you don’t have to know how to do this yourself to create a great site. There are plenty of drag-and-drop website builders that can make this step easy for anyone to use. However, creating a website isn’t just about coding—it also requires hosting, which is the server where your website’s data lives. Hosting providers store your website’s files on their servers and make them accessible to visitors through the internet. Whether you’re building a simple blog or a complex e-commerce platform, both coding and hosting are essential to bringing your website to life once you’ve registered your domain name.
Why both are crucial for your online presence
A website without a domain name is like a business that doesn’t list its address or contact information anywhere. And a domain name without a website is like a listed address that leads to an abandoned building. In both cases, your customers are going to struggle to find you.
When people want to learn about a company or organization, their website is often the first place they turn. A clear and professional domain name linked to an informative and secure website helps establish your business’s credibility and boost its visibility. A well-chosen domain can even improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find you online. Together, a custom domain name and a well-designed website strengthen your brand’s identity and leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Connecting your domain to your website: the technical side
Once you’ve found and registered your domain name, it’s time to build out your website and connect everything together. This process may sound complex, but it’s so straightforward that anyone with an internet connection can do it once they know the steps. Here’s a simple breakdown:
1. Choose a web hosting provider
Before anything else, you need a place to store your website’s files, which is what web hosting provides. When you sign up with a hosting provider, they give you the server space needed to store everything that makes up your website (images, text, videos, etc.). Your domain registrar can usually also provide hosting for a seamless process, but you should be free to use whatever provider make the most sense for you.
2. Link your domain to your hosting account
Once you have your hosting set up, the next step is to point your domain name to the server where your website lives. This is done through DNS (Domain Name System) settings. Your hosting provider will supply you with nameservers, which are essentially the “directions” that tell the internet where to find your website. You’ll need to log into your domain registrar (where you bought your domain) and update the DNS records to point to your hosting provider’s nameservers.
3. Get to work on your new website
Start coming up with the information you’ll want on your website and how many pages you’ll need (like a Homepage, a Contact Page, and an About Us page). If you know how to create code for your own site, great! If not, there are plenty of website builders like WordPress that have templates and shortcuts to create a site as simple or as creative as you want. Epik makes this step even simpler and will work with you to get your first pages launched in no time.
4. Upload your website files
After connecting your domain to your host, the final step is to upload your website files to the hosting server. You can use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software or your hosting provider’s control panel to do this (depending on the amount of data). Once your files are live, visitors who type in your domain will be directed to your fully functional website!
These steps may seem technical at first, but most hosting providers and domain registrars offer step-by-step guides to walk you through the process and make it as obvious as possible. At Epik, we’re here to help with all your domain and website needs—whether you want us to handle everything or just one part while you explore other options. Either way, our knowledgeable customer service team is always ready to assist whenever you need support.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. When you’ve registered a domain but don’t have a website connected to it, yet, it’s considered domain parking. A parking page can let site visitors know that a website is in the works, and it can even provide your contact information so they can still get in touch. At Epik, we have free and ad-free parking pages so that you can take as much time as you need to set up your site.
Technically, yes, you can have a website without a domain name, but it’s not ideal. Without a custom domain, your website will typically be accessible through a generic URL provided by your hosting or website builder (e.g., catsinboots.wordpress.com). This can make your site look less professional, harder to remember, and less trustworthy to visitors. A custom domain adds credibility and makes your website easier to find.
Your domain should be easy to remember, brandable, and relevant to your business. Keep it short, avoid numbers and hyphens, and consider which top-level domain is the best choice.
Once you’ve completed the steps above, the process usually takes a few hours to a couple of days. It depends on your domain registrar and hosting provider’s DNS propagation times.
Yes, unless you’re using a website builder that includes hosting. A hosting service stores your website files and makes them accessible online.
DNS (Domain Name System) settings tell the internet where to find your website. You need to update them to point your domain to your web hosting provider.
If you don’t connect your domain to your website, visitors won’t be able to access your content. They’ll either see an error page or a default page from your hosting provider.
Yes, but changing your domain can affect your branding, search engine rankings, and any existing links to your site. It’s best to choose carefully from the start.
Domain names typically cost between $10 and $20 per year, depending on the registrar and the domain extension (.com, .net, etc.).